What kind of antenna do you use?

[KI4WCA]

What kind of antenna do you use?And in a perfect world, what kind of antenna would you like to have?
I have a 90 foot sloper in the quietest part of my tiny 1/3 acre lot.I work it against a few radials and my lightning protection groundfield( 4 8ft rods spaced out over 50 feet connected by #4 copper wire).
In a perfect world, I would rather have a number of Rhombics with 4 wavelength legs for serious dx work, as well as some full size verticals over 120 radials for omni work.I think big yagis on a huge tower are excellent....but the simplicity and huge capture area of the rhombics appeal to me.
For now, my silly 90 foot wire works.I suspect almost all of use have to use some sort of compromise antenna.But if you could have anything, what would it be?Giant Yagi?Wullenweber array?Loops?Rhombics?Beverage?
How about it?

[n7wr]

I use a large tribander (F-12 C31XR) for 10/15/20 and various wires for 40/80/160. I also have an elevated vertical with lots of elevated radials for 10-80. Next Spring a 2 element 40 will go up on the 100 ft tower below the C31XR.

That having been said, if I could I would have the BIG Stepr yagi and would continue to use wires on the low bands.

[N5USR]

I have an R8 vertical, which gives me 40-10 (supposed to do 6 as well, but the SWR is out of sight there). I keep meaning to put up an 80M dipole, fed with ladder line, but just haven't gotten out to do it. The few nice days we've had there's been plenty else to do.

No idea what I want in a perfect world... I do know the first thing I want is lots of land on which to play! My suburban home is sure convenient, no long commute, but sure is cramped... I do intend to put up a 50-60 foot tower within a couple of years, though.

I'm sure you were just asking for HF, but I also have 6M and 2M "squalos" for SSB, and a small forest of verticals for 6, 2, 220 and 440 FM. Oh, and a discone for the scanner... :p

[k2gsp]

I have a 40m loop. It's a half wave, but not really high enough. It works ok. I'm going to push it up higher down the road. I just finished the base plate and center post on my new Hexbeam. I had the older version Hex, but it had an accident, so I'm building the new broad band Hex.

[kc7gnm]

I have an 80-10 meter butternut vertical. I have an Arrow dual band j-pole for vhf and uhf. I have a Rat Shack 5/8 wave mag mount on top of my swamp cooler for APRS. On the mobile I have an MFJ Dual Bander, Rat Shack through the glass dual bander, and a Procomm 4 band HF antenna mounted on my Dodge Dakota.

[KI4BNC]

I use an:eek: "ISOTROPIC RADIATOR"that tunes 70cm and down to...?:eek:
just kidding.I have a 75/80m dipole for 80 and down,I have a short tower with a homebrew 3 element dipole beam for 10m with a modified a99 sitting on top of it-also for 10m,I ahve a dual band 2m/70cm vertical about 70ish feet in the air sprouting out of an oak tree,and a "random length" loop fed with twinlead
(no markings,stiff as a board copper-clad steelcore wire twinlead?about 12ga?)
that will tune from 160 to ? and thats all of them.

[ki4urm]

i use a home brew carolina windom for hf work and a 4 ele 6 meter beam crushcraft 2/440 jetstream virtical and a 4 ele cruscraft 2 meter beam
all so havea virtical up for hf

[k7mh]

I happily use a 2 element 5 band quad.
Would be happily-er with a 4 element 5 band quad!!:D

[kf5kwo]

Antenna number 1: ground-mounted stealth homebrew 1/4 wave 40m wire vertical, using a tuner to work 20-10m, 35 radials underneath. Works like a charm. I love being able to work DX on 40 at night.

Antenna #2: MFJ magnetic loop for 20/15/10. Admittedly, I like using my homebrew vertical nowadays much more than this mag loop. Still use it of course as the signal reports are only sometimes better than the homebrew.

Antenna #3: 80m full wave loop, 12 feet off the ground, under the eaves of the roof of my one-story house. I can work the whole country on 75/80 with this antenna.

In a perfect world? Who knows... I really like the results I'm getting from the vertical. And if I were to mount the mag loop horizontally instead of vertically, I'd be very happy. Don't need a huge tower and beam yet, I like my wire just fine.

73 de Jeff, KF5KWO
Helotes, TX

[KI4SYC]

I have an 80m Dipole with a 40m and 20m Ladder-Line Antenna slung underneath.

I would love to have "land, lots of land", to put up bigger and better antennas.

[wa9cwx]

I have three towers. One at 60', one at 64', and one at 93'.

I ALSO happily use a 2 element 5 band quad, at 66 feet.

For 80 /40 I use a dipole on the side of the tower at the 50 foot level.

For 160 /thru 30 I use a 400 foot center fed (ladder line) dipole, mounted at about 90 feet.

For 40 DX to the SW and NE, I use a pair of phased verticals. Gives me Pacific Islands and Europe.

On two meters, I use a pair of phased, home brew vertical beams at 62 feet, an 8 element horizontal beam for SSB at 65 feet, and a 21 foot vertical for 2/440 mounted at 97 feet. There are also a pair of phased verticals mounted at 32/40 feet.

For 440 I use a pair of phased vertical beams, and an 11 element horizontal beam, at 67 feet.

I have a six meter dipole on the side of the roof, at the 30 foot level, and a verticlal 2 / 440 vertical on the chimney, and a six meter vertical and a mobile dual bander mounted at lower levels on the VHF tower.

There is a scanner antenna on the side of the tower at the 30 foot level, and a discone on the porch at the 15 foot level.

I have a ladder line feed to my garage rain gutter from my den, and various INSIDE antennas...

That about does it, except I bought my neighbors house with the intent of putting up some more wire......that was two years ago, have not done it YET....My IDEAL set up would be the same as I have, only taller towers for HF and VHF.


Frank

[k8jd]

I would never survive with only one antenna.

I have various antennas for the bands I a m interested in. single band antennas except for one Buternut 6 band vertical.
I have monoband dipole or loop antennas for 160 thru 30M and a 3 el yagi for 10M. When the sunspot count gets up again I will consider yagis for 17 and 12M where I currently am not covered.
At one QTH I had several vertical and horizontal yagis,and omni vertical antennas for 6, 2 and 220 MHZ bands also but now I don't have the time for VHF operation.

[kj3n]

What kind of antenna do you use?

Antenna? Antenna? As someone already said, how in the world do you survive on one antenna?

I'm nowhere near as well off as some of the others who have already posted, but I can't imagine having only one antenna. For example:

1) 135 foot doublet @ 60 feet.

2) 40m full wave horizontal loop @ 35 feet.

3) Full size 40m vertical, elevated 18 feet above ground, with 3 elevated radials.

4) Dual band inverted L for 75m and 160m. Uses a 75m coax trap at the top of the 60 foot vertical section. Hangs from a tree limb @ about 62 feet.

These are just the main wire antennas for HF. I'm not counting the R-7000 vertical, the 60m vertical, or the 6m, 2m, and 70cm beams on the roof.

And in a perfect world, what kind of antenna would you like to have?

Several things. A 75m four square comes to mind. So does a 75 foot tower to get over the tree line so that I can really do some good 70cm SSB. Enough room for all of this would be nice, too.

0.7 acres just doesn't cut it when you want Beverages, BTW. ;)

[kn4ds]

I operate on one antenna... a dipole cut and tuned for 7.2 MHz... and it serves me well. I have contacts across half the globe (Oceana and Asia the only continents I've not worked).

On this single antenna, I have contacts on 160m, 80/75m, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m.

That includes DX on all bands except 160, 30, 17 and 12... but I have just now bought a radio that'll do 30, 17 and 12... and there's little chance I'll ever do DX on 160 with this antenna... I was impressed I got Virigina on 160 CW.

I'm space limited, as well as XYL restricted... though I am tempted to put 80 feet of something vertical and guyed and seeing what I can do with that.

[AC4BB]

A 20 meter square Fullwave loop at 65 feet. Hanging Vertically fed horizontally. Works great works as 2 fullwave lenghts all across ten meters.

[WD4CHP]

I use a 5BTV in the front yard.

No deed restrictions and no complaints from the neighbors.

:D

[M0MJH]

I use either a number of different dipoles, OCF windoms, G5RV etc (depends what I sling up at the time) and a diamond CP5 vertical. Works OK. My best DX is often with my mobile setup with 'hamstick' aerials.

[kf5er]

A R-7 vertical, 80M inverted Vee, Optibeam OB6-12 beam.
A pair of phased Butternut HF2V Verticals w/32 135' radials.
Works for me!

[N8MME]

I have a Cushcraft R7 for 10-40m. It is mounted on the top of a 20 foot tip-over pole. I also have a 135' dipole fed with ladder line up about 35' for 10-160, and it does a great job. I also have a Diamond X200 on a 20 foot tip over pole for UHF-VHF. They all do a fine job for me, but in an ideal world I would have a tower with a big tri-bander on it, plus a few other things hanging on it. :D

[NN3W]

80: Full wave quad - bottom only 10 feet up
40: Single element delta loop - feed 1/4 way from corner
20-10: Double extended lazy H on 10 which tunes 10-20.

Ideal? Heh, thats easy. 160 = 4 square; 80 = 4 square; 40 - 10 = stacked yagis (preferrably 4/4 on 40, 6/6/6 on 20, 8/8/8 on 15, and 8/8/8 on 10) with additional high elevation yagis on 20 through 10 to catch very low angle signals.

[K9STH]

Go to

http://k9sth.com/uploads/newantenna.JPG

for my answer.

Glen, K9STH

[kc4umo]

I dont have much, but it gets by.
I have a 50 foot tower.
A tripod mounted on top of the shack (about 25 feet)

HF
Fan dipole (10 -80).
400 foot long wire.
40/80 Alpha Delta dipole.
10/15/20 rotatable dipole.
4 element 10 meter monobander.

VHF/UHF
16 foot 2 meter -70 cm quagi. 9 element 2 meter 15 element 70cm.
10 element horizontal 2 meter.
1/4 2 meter ground plane.
70cm vertical.
Discone.

Satellite
24 element cross VHF yagi.
60 element cross 70cm yagi.
5 element 70cm quagi
VHF Texas potatoe masher.
UHF Texas potatoe masher.

All of the antennas are homebrew except the Alpha Delta dipole.

[KD0BIK]

I use a Hustler 6BTV vertical. It's ground mounted with about a dozen radials (more to be added in the Spring). I'm in Colorado and have worked staions in all 4 corners of the Country, plus Brazil and Jamaica. I would love to be able to have a tower...but my HOA doesn't agree.

Happy Monday,
Jerry

[N2RJ]

I have a 4 element MonstIR by Fluidmotion SteppIR. It sits on a 70ft AN Wireless self supporting tower.

In an ideal world I'd like a stack of two of them, one at 70' and another at 140'.

I would also like stacks of monobanders pointed towards EU and JA.

I also have a hustler 6BTV trap vertical with 120 radials which gets use as a rx antenna, also for use with ALE and for comparison.

For VHF/UHF I have a jetstream JTB1 vertical which is at 86ft.

For HF mobile I use a tarheel screwdriver antenna with a 6ft whip.

For VHF/UHF work while in motion I have a comet SBB7 dualbander.

[K8YZK]

G5RVjr setup as a inverted vee, center up 20'. No room for a tower, with 2 power lines going across my yard. Looking to try a vertical this spring.
I work around the country and get my share of DX, it is just with my antenna the bands open later and close earlier.

[KU0DM]

33 foot dipole at about 20 feet. Not the best but it gets out well enough, I have 83 countries on it!

GP-13 at 15 feet, and 2m beam at 15 feet.

The HOA unleashed their fury the day I put up the antennas, and they had to be downsized.

Dreams:

Beam antennas:
10/10/10/10 6 meter stack
7/7/7/7 10 meter and 15 meter stack
6/6/6/6 20 meter stack
5/5/5 40 meter stack

Verticals:
4 squares for 80m and 160m

Loop:
500 foot loop fed with ladder line for digital modes on 10-160

[n4qwb]

For HF, I only have a Hygain 12AVQ 20-10m vertical mounted on the ground with no radials yet. That'll be my spring project. I had to order wire online, so I'm still waiting to put up my 150-ft, ladder-line fed dipole. Although I have 1.5 acres, there are lots of trees and substantial XYL resistance that I have to factor into my plans.

For VHF/UHF, I have a Comet GP-3 vertical for 2m/440 on a 15-ft mast (again, XYL resistance) and a home-brew 3-element 2m yagi in the attic that I use as a back up. Actually, I find my little cheap yagi works better.

My dreams are realistic. I just want around a 60-ft tower with a 4 or 5 element tribander for 20-10. On top, I want a 15-element 2m yagi and my Comet vertical mounted on top. I'd then hang the long dipole from it that I'd tune for 160-30. Real basic setup, but that would satisfy my dreams...at least for a while.

[AC0H]

I've got a roof mounted Hustler 5BTV and an Carolina Windom 80 strung in the trees. I'm going to replace the 5BTV with a SteppIR BigIR this spring/summer. Never been happy with the performance if the Hustler.

In my perfect world I'd have three towers.

190' of Rohn 55 rotating tower supporting an Optibeam 3-80 for 80m on top and two Optibeam 4-40's for 40m at 135' and 60'.

100' of Rohn 55 rotating tower supporting two 4el SteppIR's, one at 100', the other at 65'.

I would load the 100' tower as my transmit antenna on 160m.

Add in a few two direction Beverages for 160.

Oh, almost forgot............I need about 40 acres for all of the above too.

[n2jso]

I have a 102 foot doublet up 30 feet fed with 450 ohm window line. It used to be a G5RV, but I ditched the coax and ran the window line to a DX Engineering 1:1 balun just outside the shack. Tuner is a MFJ-949E.

It works very well on 80, 40 and 20, but more height is needed for easier DX on 80 and 40. It works better than nothing on all other bands from 160 thru 10.

Using this antenna since October of 2005, I've worked all states and 72 DXCC entities with just 100 watts, mostly CW and digital. That's just casual operating, and casual playing in contests.

I'll be adding some more antennas this year. Haven't decided exactly what to build yet. Candidates are a full wave 160 loop if the trees cooperate; trap inverted L for 160, 80 and 40 (maybe 30); a roof mounted vertical for 20-10 (maybe 30-10). Further in the future is a small beam (Hex Beam?) on a roof tower.

In a perfect world, I would own at least 100 acres of land on top of a hill. I would install multiple towers with monobanders, four squares for the low bands, beverages, etc.

[W0LPQ]

VHF - 9 el M2 for SSB
UHF/VHF - Diamond vertical (or is it verticle?)
6M - 5 el Propagation Station beam
HF - 75M full size loop
Fan for 20/15
Fan for 17/40
Mobile - N9JMX Predator

[N2RJ]

Hey Ron, if you need help putting up antennas, let me know. I have a 'secret weapon' to put wire in the trees, plus I live one town over.

[WA6MHZ]

With something like 27 antennas on the roof or in the yard, you'd think there would be good DXing from here, but most are 2 meter verticals. I had a Cushcrudd A3S on my West Roof tower until the wind blew the director and reflector off, so now it is a 1 element beam. Not much DXing with that at the bottom of the Sunspot cycle! Then I have up a G5RV about 35ft, which works OK, but now that a Pepper tree has started to grow up and into it, it probably will be worthless soon. Then there is a Cushcrudd R5 which is up at about 8 ft, and verticals are only slightly better than a dummy load. Now, for VHF, thats where I start to kick A55! On 6 I have a M2 6M7JHV 7 element killer beam at 50ft, and a 13 element Horiz beam for 2M on top of it. This is on the matching East roof tower. On the North roof tower, I have 14 element vertical beam on 2M, a long long DX Beam for 432 SSB, and a ridiculously long 222 beam on a 35ft boom. Above all that is a DX Beam for 1296 and another 2M vertical. Then, an assortment of 2M ringos and other verticals surround the house, and a 6M Ringo as well. Out on the Horse corral (No I dont have any horses!) is the R5 and a new 10M Ringo for the beacon I just set up on 28278.5 at about 20ft. So I need a decent HF station antenna as I am missing lots of DX!

[W7WV]

I am down to a 102" whip fed by an AH-4 tuner on the RV now. It will have to do for full timing but I may occassionaly ad a bit of wire for more bands.
I also have a Diamond UHF/VHF for the local stuff.
I just could not figure a way to take the 44' tower and T-6 Log with us in the RV! ;)

[k5jyd]

I have a 40 m dipole and a cushcraft R5 vertical.My dream antenna would be 6 15meter phased verticals on a rotating base. i have the plans but no space.
k5jyd

[VO1GXG]

I have a 80/40-15/20 Fan dipole. I will be building a 20 Meter beam this summer after my dad gets his ticket. If i could have any antenna i would have the same wire antenna but a phased 80-10 beam ( I think thats what they call it , not too sure) and a vertical for 80 and 20.

[kj3n]

Then there is a Cushcrudd R5 which is up at about 8 ft, and verticals are only slightly better than a dummy load.

#1) I had an R-5 (actually still have it) when I worked Oman and Qatar on 20m with 100 watts. Of course, we had better sunspots then (about 2002). Only reason I'm not using it now is because I have the R-7000.

#2) Verticals work just fine. I doubt I would have worked a VK, ZL, KL7, and a JA on 75m phone without one. This vertical "dummy load" was about 47 feet in length with a 6 inch load coil in the middle. It was elevated only 10 feet in the air and had only 2 elevated radials.

#3) Verticals on the low bands are DX antennas. You don't work the first 500 miles very effectively with a vertical on 75m. After 1,000 miles out, the vertical can shine.

[N2RJ]

#1) I had an R-5 (actually still have it) when I worked Oman and Qatar on 20m with 100 watts. Of course, we had better sunspots then (about 2002). Only reason I'm not using it now is because I have the R-7000.

#2) Verticals work just fine. I doubt I would have worked a VK, ZL, KL7, and a JA on 75m phone without one. This vertical "dummy load" was about 47 feet in length with a 6 inch load coil in the middle. It was elevated only 10 feet in the air and had only 2 elevated radials.

That only proves that with propagation, you can use any old thing and make contacts.

#3) Verticals on the low bands are DX antennas. You don't work the first 500 miles very effectively with a vertical on 75m. After 1,000 miles out, the vertical can shine.
That is true.

[AC0FP]

I have a 56' dipole (EDZ on 15 meters) fed with 300 ohm ladder line. I also have a 20 meter vertical dipole fed with 450 ohm ladder line.

I may try to put up some type of small beam for 10 or 15 meters, in one or two years from now, when Cycle 24 really gets started.

Frank:)

[KU0DM]

Frank, there is an article in an Antenna Book I have with directions on building a 2 el. beam (with measurments for 10-20m) on a 5 foot boom.

I can bring it to the next club meeting if you wish (the article that is).

[K3UD]

Presently my antenna farm consists of a 40ft tower with an old Wilson System 33 triband beam and a 11 element 2 meter beam on top. I also have a 2/432 Log periodic and a 3 element 6 meter beam of the another mast. I also have wire half slopers coming off the tower for 160 - 75/80 - 60 - 40 - and 30 meters.

Everything works well.

73
George
K3UD

[AC0FP]

Frank, there is an article in an Antenna Book I have with directions on building a 2 el. beam (with measurments for 10-20m) on a 5 foot boom.

I can bring it to the next club meeting if you wish (the article that is).

Thanks Duncan, I already have the beam designed. My main problem is something to mount it on and in a place that is somewhat out of sight.

73,

Frank

PS: I did forget to mention some other antennas I have like the 11 element 2 meter and the 6 meter 5 element cushcraft beams stored in my garage but they are probably going to end up in the QRZ for sale forum.

[KU0DM]

Send me an email, I would be interested in those!

I'm trying to get back to VHF weak signal.

[wb5ydk]

Thanks to all for presenting their antenna layouts. I need to get started on some new antenna projects of my own!

Currently, I just tune up using the clothesline next door. It works well, except on laundry day, when the SWR runs a little too high for my taste. It appears to be a "bad hair" day for my neighbor, as well.:D

[VE4ANC]

Currently, I just tune up using the clothesline next door. It works well, except on laundry day, when the SWR runs a little too high for my taste. It appears to be a "bad hair" day for my neighbor, as well.


You can't let a thing like laundry day get in the way of operating during a rare band opening!

Just to maintain operational capacity, you need to add a nice wide impedance input transmatch and a good ground system to your station's equipment.

I'll bet that as the clothes dry, you'll need to retune based on whether it is sunny with a breeze vs overcast with saturated air conditions. Also capture the variables as to type of clothes on the line, power run, type of soap, etc. You could do a few plots and build that info into a grid as an FYI to maintain max power to the antenna during transmission.

That just keeps things simple ... LOL.

73 de
Lee

[N2RJ]

I have a pair of M2 2M18XXX's ready to go up on a tower. I think I may just use one for now though, between the MonstIR and the 2m/440 vertical.

[w7act]

After the lead line on my latest G5RV came down in the last wind storm, I have on order from RadioWavz a full wave 160mtr delta loop it should be here within a week and it will be mounted between two fir trees 250' plus apart at a minimum 200' high. I already have the lines to hang it up installed with pullies ready to hang it when it arrives.

[kj3n]

That only proves that with propagation, you can use any old thing and make contacts.

Sorry, but I believe you're wrong. Be careful about blanket statements. ;)

I've done enough comparisons on 75m to know that there are times when the vertical I'm using works better than the 135 foot doublet. The current vertical is ground mounted and there are times when it's a full S-unit louder than the doublet that's up @ 60 feet.

If I have a 20m dipole that's up only 20 feet, I'm pretty sure that a 20m vertical, mounted only 10 feet above ground, can do better, depending on where I'm trying to get to. Since DX is usually the goal for me, I'll take a 20-25 degree TO angle (vertical) versus a 54 degree TO angle (low dipole), given the same propagation conditions. The low dipole may still work, but I'm losing signal quicker because I have to make more hops to get to the same DX.

[n2jso]

After the lead line on my latest G5RV came down in the last wind storm, I have on order from RadioWavz a full wave 160mtr delta loop it should be here within a week and it will be mounted between two fir trees 250' plus apart at a minimum 200' high. I already have the lines to hang it up installed with pullies ready to hang it when it arrives.

Dang! I gotta get me some of those 200' trees - no zoning or neighbor issues with those. In fact, one of the few deed restrictions on my property prohibits me from cutting down a mature tree unnecessarily. Best I can do now is maybe 50' (builder ignored aforementioned restriction when the lot was developed in 1972), but I'm nurturing a tulip poplar sapling that is growing in the only treeless corner of my property - they get to 120' easily around here. Just gotta be patient! :)

[KB8GFF]

I am a firm believer in the Rubber Duck.
I have run these in the short version for many years.
They seem to out perform the G5RV far and beyond!!!
This is a very very effect high gain antenna when inhanced with a tinfoil cap hat! :rolleyes:

[n2jso]

Hey Ron, if you need help putting up antennas, let me know. I have a 'secret weapon' to put wire in the trees, plus I live one town over.

I'll keep you in mind, Ryan. I have a line launcher that I built that works pretty well. It's not a sling shot - those are illegal in NJ, but "devices manufactured for launching lines" are expressly permitted. ;) My problem isn't getting wires into the trees, it's keeping them from getting tangled up. I have a lot of very "bushy" trees - hemlocks, maples, a couple of ornamental pears (really a pain to deal with) and a spruce. Makes it hard to get the ropes and wires through them in a useful manner.

[kj3n]

I have a lot of very "bushy" trees - hemlocks, maples, a couple of ornamental pears (really a pain to deal with) and a spruce. Makes it hard to get the ropes and wires through them in a useful manner.

That's why you shoot over them, not through them. ;)

[w2nsf]

OB18-6 up on a 100ft tower, rotator to match!
Oh well, I'm just dreaming, so I'll settle for my dipole.:(

[KU0DM]

The title says it all. :D

[KB1OJU]

im stuck with dipoles for now :) but soon i hope to get a nice vertical up and going :) :) :)

[kc7gnm]

I guess the idiot spam filters are turned off now on these new forums.

[KI4WCA]

Thank you everyone for your replies!Some of you already have dream systems!!!
I admit the one I liked best was the 400 ft longwire.I really like wire antennas, and a wire that long has gain that is pretty fun on the higher bands.Since I started this thread my very lame 90 ft wire antenna got me into panama with 50 watts.True, the saltwater path really helped.I continue to look at the backyard for more effective nearly invisible antennas to erect.Severe XYL resistance here!On the upside buried radials are invisible...so I can go nuts there!!

[kc4umo]

Thank you everyone for your replies!Some of you already have dream systems!!!
I admit the one I liked best was the 400 ft longwire.I really like wire antennas,


I love my 400 foot long wire.
Several told me it would not work well. But I have already made many contacts on it. I have it connected to my old cubit tuner. I like to get it up higher though.

[WB2WIK]

[QUOTE=kj3n;1116030]Sorry, but I believe you're wrong. Be careful about blanket statements. ;)

::It's been cold at night and I enjoy using a blanket.

WB2WIK
President, American Blanket Dot Org
"We're making a blanket statement."

[kj3n]

::It's been cold at night and I enjoy using a blanket.

That's what a woman is for, Steve. ;) :D

[ae5bn]

135' #10 THHN Solid Ladder Line Fed Dipole for 6-160m. And a JTB3 Vertical for 2m and 70cm.

[W4DFW]

80: Full wave quad - bottom only 10 feet up
40: Single element delta loop - feed 1/4 way from corner
20-10: Double extended lazy H on 10 which tunes 10-20.

Ideal? Heh, thats easy. 160 = 4 square; 80 = 4 square; 40 - 10 = stacked yagis (preferrably 4/4 on 40, 6/6/6 on 20, 8/8/8 on 15, and 8/8/8 on 10) with additional high elevation yagis on 20 through 10 to catch very low angle signals.

You forgot the computer program that automatically adjusts the output to the stacked arrays to match the best signals from the incoming signal.

SHAME on you! :D

[kc4ylv]

I have but a modest station that includes a 75m inverted L, a 40m inverted V and a 40-10 vertical, along with 2m/70cm yagis on a PVC mast and 2m/70cm omni verticals on a separate mast.

Why is my setup special? It's on a 60x80 foot city lot with absolutely no privacy and a power line bisecting the back yard. I had to come up with some very creative mounting and camouflage ideas to get the farm up. :)

[wd8lic]

I live in a condo and run 100W into an 80/40 Isotron "Birdfeeder" antenna in the attic over the garage. Lots of nice qso's with nice hams. Isotrons get a really bad rap, but works fb for me.

Bob:)

[kf6rdn]

Here's my antenna BEFORE assembly:

http://fantes.com/images/simac_disc_04.jpg


:p

[k8pg]

Mosley Pro 67c3-80ft-US Towers HDX 70 crank up -10-40 Mtrs
3/8 wave InvL-64 1/4 radials 160-200 ft White Pine tree
1/2 wave vert.80 mts Rhon 25G 64 radials
4-1000-800 ft Beverages switchable-10 ft high

all resonant on cw ,I do not use phone or 2 Mtrs

Paul K8PG CW IS !!!
wrk you on 7.026+/- 20- 70wpm-no keyboard sending
Bugs -Paddle-and keyer-also SK 3wpm-30wpm
Lets have a Qso -Getter Done !

[KI4WCA]

Wow!I bet those beverages really help you hear deep into the area of interest!

[KC9JIQ]

a 5/8ths Larsen 2meter given to me by my elmer.

A RadioShack Discone.

and a 1/4 wave 11 meter ground plane, made with speaker wire.;)

[ka0gkt]

I presently use a barely visible antenna...HOA folks being what they are...

[KI4WCA]

I presently use a barely visible antenna...HOA folks being what they are...

At college I had a 135ft wire up 80ft from my room to another building.It was up for months before it was seen.magnetwire.I was allowed to keep it after interogation by admin, after which I was introduced to the ham on staff!He liked my SP-600!

[kf4wer]

Not much right now:

HyGain DX-88 vertical, ground mounted with 30 radials - more to be added.
HyGain 12AVQ vertical.
Antron A-99 at 20 ft. for local 10 mtr. use.
Horizontal wire loop at 15 ft. for HF Rx only.
Isopole 2 mtr. vertical being used as a scanner Rx antenna.
99 inch stainless whip for 10 mtr. mobile.

[k0cmh]

80 meter end fed zepp in a tree line behind house
20 meter center fed dipole in 2nd floor attic
10 meter center fed dipole in garage attic
dual band "arrow j-pole" in garage attic
10 meter quarter wave gound plane in back yard

With tuners, I have good performance on all but some of the WAR bands.

[NI7I]

I use a half inch hemp rope soaked 24 hours in mark V gain oil. Length of rope doesnt matter much. With larger diameter rope and longer period of soaking you can of course get better results. Any sort of feet line will work. I use this aboard merchant ships and I believe I get better results than shore side folk because of the sea spray assisting the gain oil. I have done no tests to prove this out however. If you hear my call when I get back aboard, dont hesitate to give me a shout..

73
Lee
NI7I

[KC2ESD]

I have a 5BTV Vertical with shamefully only 4 ground radials for HF 80-10M
I have a X-30A for 2M/70cm on the top of the QTH. Also have a 20M dipole but it is not up right now. Thats about it.

Rick KC2ESD

[KI4WCA]

I use a half inch hemp rope soaked 24 hours in mark V gain oil. Length of rope doesnt matter much. With larger diameter rope and longer period of soaking you can of course get better results. Any sort of feet line will work. I use this aboard merchant ships and I believe I get better results than shore side folk because of the sea spray assisting the gain oil. I have done no tests to prove this out however. If you hear my call when I get back aboard, dont hesitate to give me a shout..

73
Lee
NI7I

Hmmm.I assume great swr from your linear omnidirectional null radiator!

[KI4WCA]

I did not mention my homebrew 1/4 wave 2 meter antenna.2 inch square of silver sheet with a bnc connector in the center.#14 copperweld whip, 4 #6 copper radials.Works very well from homebrew 15ft mast on chimney.Also a homebrew 3 element quad for 2 meters....not in use now.And a 440 1/4 wave groundplane antenna, all silver not used now.

[NI7I]

null radiators are ilegal in oregon and the coast guard will not alow them aboard ships.

Lee
NI7I

[NI7I]

SWR is no problem. this antenna is flat from 70 cm thru 10 meters.. never tested it in microwave..

Lee
NI7I